Pretty Books I'm Excited To Read

Happy Tuesday, lovebirds!

I haven't done a romance list post in a while and I really enjoy doing them, so I thought I'd share with you guys some amazing-sounding books that have recently gotten pretty covers. You might end up broke by the end of the post - you have been warned (looking at you especially, Becky!) - but ugh you guys, everything looks AMAZING and I want to read them all right away. Hope you enjoy the post and the pretties! :)

Can't-Wait Wednesday (7): Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the yet-to-be released books we're excited to read. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hi everyone!

It's a new Wednesday and as usual I'm here to share with you another one of my anticipated titles.

Lisa's Sunday Update (2)

Hi guys!

I haven't done a proper reading update in a while, welp. I have been sharing Can't Wait Wednesdays just to post something but I'm going to try and do better from now on. 

It's the weekend and I have a new appreciation for it now, because I just started my full-time job on Wednesday! That's right, your girl is no longer funemployed and is now a working professional. The job isn't my first choice and isn't something I ever imagine myself doing in a million years, but it pays well and should be a good experience. I need to fund my book-buying habits and hopefully save some money for travel, LOL.

Today I'll be sharing some mini reviews of the books I read...a week ago? Two weeks ago? I can't remember the last time I finished a book because I've been in a weird headspace since I was confirmed for the job. I told my sister that I haven't touched my iPad since I started working and she was like, "Are you okay?"

Onwards!

Cris' Reading Update

Hey people. I've been kind of missing from this blog, and for that I'm very very sorry. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I'm changing jobs inside my company, and I've been in a gruesome training for 6 weeks now. It's been amazing, but exhausting, and I haven't had much time to prepare any post. Again, sorry!

I thought about doing something different this time, and do a little update of what I've been reading this past month, and what I'll be reading during the month of October - kind of like a September wrap-up and an October TBR. Very original, I know... =P

During the month of September I heard a bunch of audiobooks, because of my commute to my training place (and the fact that for most of the month, I didn't have my car). I read some fantastic ones, and I was finally able to finish the Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid, and I LOVED the books, and they all work amazingly on audio. I also started the Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare, also on audio, and I'm enjoying that so much too. I also read Professor Feelgood (Masters of Love, #2) by Leisa Rayven, and really liked it, though I need to write the review for the book ASAP.

I also read Once Upon a Real Good Time (Heartbreakers, #1) by Lauren Blakely, though I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. The writing somehow didn't quite feel like Blakely, but I still want to get my hands on the other 2 books of the series, but I might give them a try in audio format, because Lauren Blakely's books usually work wonderfully in audio.

Finally, I gave Let's Get Textual by Teagan Hunter a chance, and I absolutely loved it.

I didn't read as many books in September as I had on the previous month, but I was still happy with the ones I read.

Now, for October, I plan to continue my Tessa Dare saga, as soon as Scribd allows me to listen to her books again. Here's what I'm reading:

The first book I already read this month was Love Sincerely Yours by Meghan Quinn and Sara Ney, and I'm sorry to say that it didn't blow me away... but my review will be out on the 13th. Then I'm about to finish the Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare, but I need to read the Castles Ever After series, because one book is related to both series.

Then, because Scribd was mean to mean and temporarily took out most of my saved list, I'm listening to Falling from the Sky by Sarina Bowen, let's see if I like this one better than the first book in the series. Afterwards, I'll probably read The Jerk Duet by Max Monroe, which will most likely be hilarious. And finally, I want to read I Wanna Text You Up by Teagan Hunter, and see if I like it as much as the first book, which I'm betting I will.

Have you guys read any of these books? Any thoughts?!

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine & Ache For You by J.T Geissinger

BETWEEN A HIGHLANDER AND A HARD PLACE
by Mary Wine

Series: Highland Weddings #5
Genres: Historical

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: November 6th 2018

Source: ARC received for review

Rating: ★★★

Amazon 

Mary Wine's Highland Wedding series has been a consistently entertaining historical romance series for me. I've been enjoying these books, these characters, and the setting tremendously. I'm always eager to pick up a new book with these books. Between a Highlander and a Hard Place was one I certainly could not miss, especially with that stunning cover. While I enjoyed my time with this 5th book, I have to admit that the books are starting to all blend together for me as they all have a very similar premise. When a broken-hearted Athena is forced to flee her uncle's home to escape the scoundrel who pretended to be in love with her, she runs into the arms of a Highlander, Symon. Symon helps her by providing her safety from the wilds of Scotland. While both were instantly drawn to each other, Athena was adamant about wanting to give in to her attractions. As with the other heroines in this series, she was fiery and feisty. It took a lot of courage for her to run away from the safety of her home to Scotland and I admired that about her. Symon was also a good caring man who wanted the best for his people. He had lost his wife recently and was on the look-out for a wife. Though he was fiercely attracted to Athena, he never forced himself on her. He was constantly there to save her from dangerous situations. The romance between the two was great as usual. There was a lot of passion between the two that only seemed to grow as the book progressed. What I really enjoy about this series that there are secondary storylines that delve into clan politics and historical issues that keep the books engaging. All in all, while Between a Highlander and a Hard Place did not offer anything particularly fresh in terms of characterizations and romance, it was still an enjoyable story that I think fans of the series will enjoy.

Can't-Wait Wednesday (6): A Wedding One Christmas by Therese Beharrie

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the yet-to-be released books we're excited to read. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hi everyone!

It's a new Wednesday and as usual I'm here to share with you another one of my anticipated titles.

Will I Ever Tire Of Fake-Relationships?: Real Kind of Love by Sara Rider

REAL KIND OF LOVE
by Sara Rider

Series: Books & Brew #1
Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: June 5th 2018

Source: Bought

Rating: ★★★1/2

Amazon 

Everyone and their mother knows by now that I'm a huge sucker for a good fake-dating romance. With its adorable cover and promise of a fake relationship, I couldn't help but be excited for Real Kind of Love. That excitement was amped up when I saw that both Lisa and Becky enjoyed this book. Now that I've read the book, I can safely say that I have a new author whose books I am eager to read. Real Kind of Love was fun, sweet and romantic!

In any contemporary romance, it's important for me to fall for the characters and I had no trouble with that here in Real Kind of Love. It was abundantly clear to me that Sara Rider was going to take her time to develop both her hero and her heroine throughout the book from the very start. I loved that we got to see so many layers to these characters. Clementine is a character that a lot of readers will relate too. I thought her job as an audiobook narrator was super cool, especially the fact that she was making healthy income through something that she was having fun doing. She was a little shy when it came to men, but she also possessed an inner strength and lots of courage. This bookish heroine totally charmed me from the get-go. Jake, her love interest, was a little bit harder for me to relate too, but that does not mean that I didn't like. He was the opposite of Clem in that he was much more extroverted than her, but he was also a workaholic whose job as a bar owner was a bit of an impediment to a relationship. Jake won me over with how kind and genuine he was towards Clementine. There is just something about an attentive and loving hero that gets me.

I'm sure you are dying to know how their fake relationship comes about. Well, we have Clementine's large, loud and hilarious family to thank for that. To get out of a family vacation, Clem lies and tells her family that she's going on a romantic getaway with her new boyfriend only to have them invite themselves to this getaway. Jake comes to her rescue as her fake boyfriend and undeniably, feelings begin to bubble between these two. The romance was super cute. Jake and Clem had a really strong dynamic. There were times when the romance did veer towards cheesy territory for me, but that didn't impede my enjoyment of the book all that much. I thought Clementine's family was a great addition to the book. They were so funny and nosy, but obviously genuinely cared for each other. It was really sweet in a way how they got into each other's business.

Fans of fake-dating romances are going to love Real Kind of Love! I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Make Me Fall, which is a hate-to-love/neighbors romance!

Do you enjoy the fake-dating trope as much as me? Who are some of your favorite fictional families?
Let me know in the comments below!

Excerpt: Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert

Mating the Huntress

by Talia Hibbert

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Nixon House

Publication Date: September 24th 2018

Amazon | Amazon UK 

This Halloween, love bites back... hard.

Chastity Adofo knows a monster when she sees one. As soon as Luke Anthony wanders into her family’s coffee shop, she recognises the evil lurking beneath his charming smile and fantastic arse. The handsome werewolf is determined to have her—but she’s determined to cut out his heart.

Little does she know, Luke’s plans for her are far more pleasurable than murder. And when the full moon rises, all bets are off...

Warning: Mating the Huntress is 30,000 words of red-hot, Halloween-themed romance. This book contains one flirtatious, cursed creature of the night, one badass, knife-happy heroine, and forbidden lust at first sight. Please read responsibly!